Sorry, yes the Blanton's lived in the Wallins Creek area of Harlan County, Kentucky. For some reason I thought I had included that (sorry).

The only information I have is from the letter my dad sent to another family history buff.

The letter was written in 1970. My dad died in 1979.
I just found the letter a few days prior to posting the query.

I have not found any more on the names of the 7 dead, but "assume" they were Blanton's.

The story was told to my dad in the early 1960s by his aunt Bertha Ellen Black Helton (1890-1966). She must have been in her 70s when she told the story which was passed down by her mother-in-law who died in 1926.
A lot of years had passed between her hearing it and her passing it along.

So, in the way tales get passed down through many years and foggy minds, it's hard to come by any real substantive facts.

But, any and all help is most greatly appreciated!

Thank you
Elaine